Early Years
Ngozika Ikwunma Onyike (Nee Onyekwelu) was born on 10th December 1978 in Vom Christian Hospital, Plateau State as the first of four children to the Late Mr. Christopher Chukwujekwu Onyekwelu and Dr (Mrs) Nnennaya Adanma Onyekwelu (Nee Nkanginieme) of Eziakpaka, Nawfia in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State.
She was raised in a Christian home where values such as honesty, contentment, hospitality, hard work and respect for others were greatly emphasized. The family lived in the Federal Livestock Staff Quarters and did extensive agriculture due to the large expanse of land available in the quarters. Ngozi and her siblings were involved in the farming process of caring for animals, livestock and crops, learning the rudiments of success through hard work and imbibing the right attitude to work.
Ngozi was involved in the St Pyrians Anglican Church Youth Fellowship, which was the church attended by the family and her family enjoyed strong relationships with some other families in the Vom community.
Besides her immediate family she was part of a closely knit maternal and paternal extended family. Her high value for relationships and her warm disposition resulted in her enjoying close family-like ties with relations of her cousins who were not directly related to her. She regarded Prof. S.S.C. Onyekwelu as a second father and his children as siblings and that bond remained so strong in her life. She was also very strongly connected to her maternal aunties, uncles and cousins in the Nkanginieme family. Family was her strong support system.
Engie as she was fondly called, had her early education in National Vertinary Research Institute (NVRI) Staff Primary School in Vom, Plateau State. Thereafter, she attended the Command Secondary School in Jos where she made some of her lifelong friends. She distinguished herself in sporting activities especially athletics and high jump and was the Tiger House Captain in the school.
Higher Education
Ngozi was admitted to the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1999 to study Pharmacy. She was an outstanding student who had several distinctions in various courses during her Pharmacy programme, finishing as the 2nd Best Graduating Student in 2004. During her time in UNN, she was an active member of the Federal Ex-Students’ Christian Association (FECA), serving as the Nsukka Chapter’s General Secretary. It was through FECA that she met Kelechi Onyike, her would be husband, who was a member of the FECA national leadership that visited various chapters from time to time. Upon completion of her Pharmacy programme, she had her internship at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital UPTH (2005 – 2006) and her mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Warri (2006-2007). On completion of her NYSC, she went to the King’s College, London for a Masters’ Degree in Bio-Pharmacy from where she graduated as the Best Graduating Student in the MSc programme in 2008.
Marriage
Engie returned to Nigeria after her Masters’ programme in the UK and got married to Kelechi Onyike on the 6th of December,2008. They have three lovely children-two girls and a boy, Kamnefechi, Ezindu and Chinekwu. Ngozi was very devoted to her husband and children and very generous with her show of love through gifts even when there was no special occasion. She loved to make an assortment of dishes, pastries and cakes to the delight of her household, friends and family. The future of her children was paramount to her and constantly made every necessary sacrifices to ensure the children will enjoy a great future.She integrated very well into the Onyike family and enjoyed a warm relationship with her in-laws.
Career
Ngozi was employed as a Production Pharmacist at Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited in 2009.She was later appointed as the Production Procurement Manager in 2013. She was dedicated to her work and showed a high sense of responsibility to her duties. Her career at Emzor gave her ample opportunities for training, travel, friendships as well as offered a platform for her to impact the wider society. She enjoyed a close and warm relationship with the MD of Emzor, Dr. Stella Okoli, who showed her great kindness and generosity and whom she had very high regards for as a boss, mentor and a mother figure.
Values and Personality
Ngozi was hardworking, adept at multitasking, careful in planning and swift in execution. She liked to plan well in advance and to get things done early. She showed great commitment to any task that was entrusted to her and ensured prompt and timely delivery. She was highly dependable and demanded same of those who related with her, with little tolerance for mediocrity or substandard service. Her courage and passion for a cause always shone through and she was not one to hesitate to speak up against perceived wrongs. You could count on Engie’s selfless commitment to helping people within her sphere of influence.
Engie valued and cultivated friendships, she was a loyal friend to have and over the years, maintained close relationships with a number of friends from both high school and university. Those friends surely outdid themselves and stood with her through it all. The family is amazed at such loyalty and friendship and we can only say God bless and honor you all.
Ngozi spoke fluently in English, Igbo and Hausa and loved music.
Battle with Cancer
Ngozi received the devastating news of a breast cancer diagnoses in June 2015. The ensuing medical treatment was very rigorous, taking her away from her family for intervals but despite it all, she put her faith in God, stood strong and fought extremely hard. Despite the many challenges she faced in the journey, she maintained a positive attitude and continued to impact lives with her generosity and selflessness just as she has always done. When she was available in the country between therapies, she continued to run her home, stayed diligent in her work and remained committed to family activities. Admirably, her commitment to her husband and children was unrelenting and she embraced opportunities to create memories with her children.
Ngozi will be missed for her intense loyalty and commitment to family and friends, her dependability, brilliance, diligence, warmth, resourcefulness, generosity, passion, humour and hospitality. In the days before her passing she confirmed that she was at peace with God and was ready to go. She indicated that it was time, and said her goodbyes. This will remain a source of comfort to us all who mourn her death and a source of inspiration for us to celebrate her life and legacy.
Engie, you are sorely missed!!